austraLasia 814
FR. ZAGO: "OUR CHALLENGE IS TO CONTINUE HELPING THE POOR"
Part 2 of the story of intrepid Salesian missionaries in Pakistan
ROME: 21st March '04 -- When asked what might be the major challenge for Salesian work in Pakistan, Fr. Peter Zago, the man in charge of this mission, replied unhesitatingly that it was 'to continue to help the poor' in an educational setting where without high school fees, uniforms and the stick, schooling was generally considered to be inconceivable. The Salesians have set out to change that in their own schools and learning centres - in fact to change all three sine qua nons!
The Pakistan mission comes under the South Philippines (FIS) province, though its men come from all over the globe. What they hold in common is Don Bosco's love for the poor and abandoned. Fr. Hans Dopheide, a New Zealand-raised Dutchman who joined the Salesians in Australia, and after working there for many years then helped build up the mission in Samoa, is now the principal of the Don Bosco Tech in Lahore. He has built that place up from scratch, and is assisted by two other Salesians, Fr. Julio Orrega and Fr. Miguel Ruiz. The institute is both a technical centre and a boarding establishment, with some 104 students in all, 64 of whom are boarders. The boarders are mainly if not all from Catholic families, but the remainder of students are locals of other faiths. They are all students who would otherwise not have such educational opportunity: poor and/or who have dropped out of regular schooling for various reasons.
The technical centre offers a two year course in automotive, electricity, metalwork and welding, refigeration. But true, too, to Fr. Hans past experiences in Australia and Samoa, the centre might also be called an Agro-Tech, since rice and wheat are now under cultivation and the estblishment owns 6 buffalo! What was earlier a flourishing youth centre has reduced its activity post 9/11 but there is every hope that as time heals wounds, this too can grow again. In the meantime efforts are being made to add a third year and to offer recognition by way of a certificate.
All of this is achieved with a minimal fee structure. The only way this has been possible is through serious effort by all the Salesians to develop outside funding sources. Bonn, Misereor, the Rector Major, CRS and many other generous donors have made it possible. Fr. Peter Zago explains that there is now a Don Bosco Welfare Society set up in Pakistan, managed entirely by locals and fully capable of carrying on the Salesian work.
And there is more good news. Vocations. The first Pakistani novice, presently in Cebu, is only a few months shy of his first profession, while there are seven postulants waiting in the wings. This first novice was one of Fr. Hans' original helpers, assisting him especially with translation, and had intended entering the seminary anyway, once his English improved. With some mutual language assistance between himself and Fr. Hans, the decision for Salesian life was easy to make.
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